The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-04-08

ing no answer, he presently spoke
again,
"Wbat is that noise I hear down
stairs =
"We don't know" said Maud
"but--'
"But whati Is that what is alarm
ing you'"
Maud considered "We are afraid
it is IA burglar"
"What Anotheri" exclaimed the
stranger. Then he checked himself.
'.Dont you think you'd better send
me TO dispose of him = he suggested,
with an admirable assumption II the
boldness of innocence.
"MaudT ~ sharply protested Mrs.
EstabIook.
"One moment, mamma" reioined
her daughter. 81 am not sure" She
turned 10 the door again. "You are
quite certain that he is not an-sn
assistant of yours 7" she asked, in the
politest terms she could select.
"Let me out, and you shall see.
Upon my honor" Here the words
were lost in stifled sound.
"ls the man laughing 7" demanded
Mrs. Estabrook, in angry amaze; then,
as new suspicion entered her mind.
"Maud, do you believe he is exactly in
his right mind 7"
81 don't think he can be-" Maud
answered doubtfully but seeing her
mothers growing alarm, she fastened
to add, "but we evidently have GER
tain control over him, ,and-really, man.
ma, don't know but it would be bet
ter to let him drive the other away. No,
but hear me out. They can't be- accom-
plices, and if we must be in the power
of either, why, l would much sooner
trust this one. He is far superior to
ordinary burglars" concluded Maud,
with fine air of connoisseurshp in
this particular branch OF the dang
GUS classes.
Her opinion, as usual, prevailed, and
their prisoner was informed that if he
would not move until a given time, he
should be released. As he readily
agreed to the conditions, the girl stole
out into the passage, turned the key
very spftly, and then flew back into
her own room, which she locked in hot
haste. Here she knocked Oh the inner
door, and at the appointed sign heard
the young man dash through the cor
rider aud down stars. There was a
sound OF ratlling glass, an alteration
of voices, pistol shot, and then q
brief period of suspense, during which
the hearts of the Two women stood
still. TheI steps returned along the
passage, crossed through the next
room, and stopped beside the door of
Communication, where rap resounded.
"Miss Estabrook, have come back,
said quiet voice.
"And the-the man 7" asked Maud,
breathless.
"Oh, l fancy he'll give you no more
trouble. Judging from the groan l
heard as he beat retreat, he won't
feel in spirits for any more of this bust
ness to night"
"Wc-we are very much obliged to
you,' stammered Maud, rather at loss
what to say under the circumstances.
"Not at all. 1t was a pleasure to me.
He was infringing on my rights, you
know"
Silence followed, broken by another
rap. "Miss Estabrook, | am waiting
to be locked up again"
'Do you really mean" began
Maud.
"Certainly. / must insist, if you
please. I'll stay here till you give me
the word"
"Be quick, Maud" whispered Mrs.
Estabrook, very distrustful of this ex-
traordinary burglar. "The man is
either a criminal or lunatic. Run
and turn the Key, child, before he
changes his mind
Thus urged, the glrl made another
sortte. Once more the key clicked in
the lock, their prisoner was heard to
cross the floor, and then all was silence
again.
Not for long, however. Suddenly
there was confused clamor at the
outside door, while the bell pealed
loudly through the house. Maud and
her mother sprang up and faced each
other.
"That man back again I" faltered
Mrs. Estabrook.
"Oh mamma, no" said Maud re-
assuringly, "A burglar would never
ring the bell. Why it's Ton, y she
cried with sudden conviction. sits my
brother come home she repeated, as a
voice from the next room was heard,
with renewed proffers of assistance.
Tom it was indeed, and very anxious
about the safety of the household.
AS the brother and sister met in the
gray of early dawn, he hastily explain
ed how, having called in to see Amelia
she had given him no peace until he
promised to return at once to The
Willows how he had done so, in some
vexation at what he considered her
fussiness, until everything had sudden
ly been driven out of his mind by the
sight of blood-stain on the piazza. At
which Maud shuddered, and was about
to relate her version of the nights ad-
ventures, when Mrs, Estabrook's voice
was heard in reproaohful accents from
above. They hastened upstairs, and
found the poor lady inclined to hyster-
les at being left alone. She began an
incoherent story, in which Peter and
the burglar were jumbled, to Toms
bewilderment.
But who winged the burglar, theni'
he asked "Was 1t you, Maud I"
"Hush-sh !" breathed his mother,
with warning finger appraised. "He's
in there, you know"
''ln there why, I thought you said
he had gope' And what on earth is
Peter in there forf"
'No, no, not Peter, the-the burg
lar"
"The burglar" Tom jumped up.
"You don't mean you've trapped the
fellow? Bravow And he was hurry.
ing to the door, when his sister laid a
hand on his arm.
"Oh, wait, Tom" she said. "That
is the oldest part of it ALL" And she
told the tale of their strange guest.
"lt doesn't seem like his beirg a burg
lar, but | don't think he can be in his
right mind" she concluded